As a Public Adjuster Palm Beach County, we see a wide range of home roof leaks. This one spread through the roof, between the wall beams, and all around the house. Chances are had the homeowner called their insurance company first, they would most likely have just fixed the leak and re-painted the walls. However, because this homeowner decided to call a Palm Beach County Public Adjuster first their home damage situation was handled swiftly and easily. When we arrived and tested the walls for moisture, it became clear there was a much bigger problem brewing. Scroll down to read the article.
A bad roof seal between a roof and the house allowed water to enter this home in Palm Beach County. The water caused a wide range of issues including a damaged floor, damaged walls, and a mold problem. Below are the pictures showing the extent of the damage. By looking at these pictures, you will be able to easily see why calling a Palm Beach County public adjuster is the smartest move a homeowner could make. Even though this home was located in Palm Beach County, our services extend to Broward County and Martin County. If you are located in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, Stuart or Port St. Lucie, we are here to help you with all your home or business property damage issues.
When a homeowner calls their insurance adjuster to report home water damage, the outcome could likely be to remedy the problem as inexpensively and quickly as possible. This means taking care of all the visible damage. If a wall is discolored, they will paint it. If the wood floor needs re-staining, they will get that done. Of course they will send someone to repair the roof leak as well. However, what your home insurance company most likely won’t do, is look beyond the normal visible damage. Basically the insurance company’s motto is, If it’s not visible it doesn’t exist.
This get it done cheap and fast attitude many insurance companies have, is the basis for most of our more serious home damage insurance claims. Because this homeowner called us first, the homeowner was saved a ton of stress and saved money. l In this water damage article below, I will not only explain why calling us first was a smart move – I will also include pictures that show the hidden damage and growing mold that most insurance companies overlook. The big problem with this situation is that the water entered from one place on the roof, then traveled along the beams inside the home to another part of the home.
When we arrived were able to track the water damage through the home, repair the walls and remediate the hidden mold.
Once we inspected the home, we saw that the wall trim was cracked due to the expansion and contraction of water. This expansion and contraction continued through the floor as well. Cracks in walls are often the first sign of serious water damage. If you notice wall cracks, or ceiling stains your first call should be to a Public Adjuster Palm Beach County.
Many insurance companies would have simply repaired the leak, painted the wall and restained the floor. By looking at these pictures you can clearly see the extent of the damage.
By calling us first, we were able to get the homeowner a settlement that covered the cost of repairing the water damaged floor, replace the mold covered drywall along with the floorboards and hardwood floor.
It’s important to remember that when it comes to home water damage, time is important, There’s a wide range of secondary destruction that will take place as more and more time passes. As the moisture spreads through the home, it causes considerably more damage. At Fox Public Insurance Adjusters, we have the latest equipment which is used to detect moisture in walls, under floors, and under carpet. Our specialized equipment allows us to confirm our findings and track down hidden water damage before it grows into a huge problem.
When a homeowner experiences water damage in Palm Beach County or any other part of South Florida, their first call should be to us. While water damage may seem like no big deal, it’s actually a huge deal. If not treated correctly, the water moisture will start the mold growing process in 24-48 hours. Mold is an organism that eats the sugar in wood, thus destroying your home. The more sugar the mold eats, the faster it grows. In addition to mold eating your home, the mold releases dangerous toxins that will cause a wide range of illnesses. Often a home will suffer water damage and the homeowner won’t even know they have a mold problem. This article explains the problems associated with leaving a mold problem unchecked. A mold nightmare. Only after several trips to the doctor with respiratory problems, will the homeowner or doctor start to suspect mold poisoning? For more information on mold read this article.
In the picture above you can see how there is mold sitting under the floor boards and inside the baseboard. By first testing for mold and moisture, we were able to determine that there was an issue behind the homes baseboard. Left untreated, the mold and moisture behind to baseboard would result in additional mold growth. Mold grows by eating the sugars in wood, if allowed, mold would spread all through the home structure eating every part of the house. Many homeowners believe that by simply leaving the mold alone it would dry and disappear. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ignoring a water or moisture problem is the worst thing a homeowner could do.
BELOW: Added on October 23rd, 2020.
Over the past couple of weeks Palm Beach County had rain every day. We didn’t just have a few sprinkles every several hours, we got a huge soaking! Given the amount of rain fall and flooding there is no question that we will be keeping very busy. When storms hit South Florida, and flood damage results many experienced homeowners know that calling a Public Insurance Adjuster first is the smartest move a property owner can make. When Palm Beach County gets hit with rain like this, many homes suffer water intrusion. The neighborhoods are designed so that the rain water, runs into the streets draining system, the flood water is supposed to spill into the community’s lakes and flood management systems. However, once the community’s flood management system is over whelmed, the flood water has no place to go. If your home has improper grading, if your gutters are clogged, if you have any other type of home issues or damage, a set of storms like the ones we just had, will open a homeowners eyes to any over looked home problems.
In the event a home has any type of roof leaks, foundation cracks, wall cracks or any other problem that may allow water to enter your home, this could be a wake up call. As a Public adjuster in Palm Beach County, our advise is to spend some time looking for signs of water damage. Look at your homes walls and ceilings for signs of water damage. Any brown spots should be investigated. Look over the floors along your homes walls. If your home has foundation damage water could seep inside. Check your homes attic. If water gets in through a cracked roof, the water can pool in your homes attic and turn into mold. Currently South Florida, especially Palm Beach County is a wet place. Now is the time to prevent future water damage issues.
When your home experienced damage from a flood, storm, hurricane it’s important to hire the best Public adjuster palm in beach county that you can possibly find. How do you know you found the right public insurance adjuster? There are a few things you could consider when you choose a aublic adjuster. First, you should only hire a licensed public adjuster. Palm Beach County requires that a public adjuster has a 3-20 public adjuster license. Receiving this license requires an apprenticeship along with passing the 3-20 e3xam. The amount of class work and field work required to become licensed is extensive.
Even though having a Palm Beach County public adjuster license is a requirement, there are many contractors, roofers, and others that are happy to service your home, while also offering their public adjusting service. If you have home damage, and someone who is not licensed offers to repair your property and file your claim, you should not hire that person. A licensed public adjuster is much more than a simple roofer, mold removal person or contractor. A public adjuster, knows how all types of home damage is related. For example, a damaged roof doesn’t always end with roof repair. Sometimes, that roof damage, means there is a roof leak, a roof leak could also become a mold issue. While a roofer, could fix the roof, chances are, the roofer isn’t a mold expert.
After a storm or a hurricane hits Palm Beach County, many roofers travel to the area looking for roofs to repair. As a homeowner, you should only hire a public insurance adjuster.
By hiring a Public Adjuster, you don’t need to worry about all the red tape or filling out mounds of paperwork.
If you are some one who is intimidated by red tape or mounds of paperwork, then hiring a public adjuster is a huge plus. It’s not that there is anything wrong with a company requiring needed paperwork. The problem happens when the homeowner makes a mistake that affects the insurance settlement. In an insurance claim situation it’s important that the homeowner doesn’t say the wrong thing. Some of this paperwork may be related to depreciation of property. For example if the insurance adjuster decides that your roof is too old, your claim may be denied. Other pieces of paperwork refer to the release of you insurance claim. It’s very important no to approve an underpaid insurance settlement too early in the process. As a Public Adjuster who services Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and all of Martin County we are very familiar with all the required paperwork. Todd the owner of Fox Public Adjusters is also a former insurance agent so he is well versed in submitting the paperwork correctly. In addition different parts of South Florida may require different types of insurance claim paperwork. For example, the paperwork required by a Fort Lauderdale Public Adjuster, may be unique to Broward County or specifically Fort Lauderdale. A Boca Raton Public Adjuster may have requirements that are only required in Boca Raton. Many of our clients live in Palm Beach Gardens which gets hit by serious rain storms and sometimes high winds generated by hurricanes.
Todd from Fox Public Adjusters is an expert at inspecting at a home, finding the water damage and then tracing the water damage to its ending point. Because Todd is an experienced home construction contractor as well as a former insurance agent, he knows what it takes to repair a water damaged home properly as well as how to work with the homeowners insurance company.
In addition to having his public adjuster license, Todd has owned his own home contracting business. This means that in addition to assessing home damage, he has a complete knowledge of housing constructing. This is helpful because he knows how a storm or hurricane will affect the integrity of your home. Todd also has his Florida mold assessor license. If your homes property damage, results in any form of water damage, Todd will be able to determine if any mold resulted from the water damage. Todd at Fox Public Adjusters is also a 220 licensed insurance agent. This gives you, as a homeowner an edge because he knows how insurance companies work. He is aware of all the tricks that insurance companies use as a way of avoiding the expense of paying a high settlement.
If you live in Port St. Lucie, Deerfield Beach, Stuart, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, Parkland, Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach and have home water damage from a roof leak, plumbing problem, or any type of flood call us at (561) 789-4FOX.
Roof leaks can cause problems you can’t see. Let FOX guide you through the claims process.